Ventura County Biographies
Simon Cohn
Submitted by Sandy Neder
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Simon Cohn is one of Ventura County's business men and the pioneer general
merchant of New Jerusalem. He was born in Germany, of German parents, April 4,
1852, and was educated in his native land, and learned the mercantile business
in his father's store. He came to California, in 1873, to launch out in business
for himself, and has met with that success which is the reward of faithful,
honest toil. He was first employed by his brother, at Saticoy, and remained
there sixteen months, after which he came to his present locality, in 1875. Mr.
Cohn is entitled to the honor of being the founder of the town of New Jerusalem
and of naming it. The first settlers of the town were three Hebrews, the fields
were loaded with golden grain, plenty of fine cattle were in the valley, there
was an abundance of choice fruit, and also milk and honey; so, the name of New
Jerusalem seemed quite appropriate. Mr. Cohn erected the first building in the
town, and in it opened his store and continued to do business in the same until
the increasing demands of his trade necessitated a larger store room. He
accordingly erected the brick block in which he is now doing business. This is a
double building, filled with all kinds of merchandise, and Mr. Cohn is doing the
principal business of the town. He now owns several buildings, and is also
interested in real estate out of the town, having sixty acres of well improved
land.
Mr. Cohn was married, in 1885, to Miss Minnie Cohn, also a native of Germany
and of the same name, but of no relation to him. Their family consists of three
children, all born at New Jerusalem, viz.: Dora, Helen, and Jacob.
The subject of this sketch has been Postmaster of the town for the past ten
years. In political views he is Democratic.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS
OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 589